Guest Columnist: Melissa M.

When asked to write a column about the challenge of balancing being a Ravens Cheerleader with being a Doctor of Physical Therapy a famous quote by Margaret Thatcher came to mind. Margaret Thatcher once said, “Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s when you had everything to do, and you’ve done it.” I believe that this statement holds true for all women of today’s society and the challenges that we face balancing the priorities in our lives.

Being a Ravens Cheerleader is an amazing opportunity that I have worked very hard to achieve, as all of us on the team have. As a Ravens Cheerleader I am expected to attend two practices each week in order to prepare for our ten hour long game day experience. In addition to practices, we have the privilege of getting out into the community and participating with various non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, and the Special Olympics. With this being said the majority of my evenings and weekends are dedicated to the Ravens family and the community that supports us.

Along with attending practices, and participating in community service, the Ravens organization requires that all of the cheerleaders are either full-time students or hold a full-time job. As for myself I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Achieving this degree entailed four years of undergraduate work for my Bachelor’s degree and an additional three years for my Doctorate degree. Currently I am working as a full-time therapist in a transitional rehabilitation facility with the geriatric population.

For me everyday is a fine balance of work and play whether it is as a Ravens Cheerleader or as a Physical Therapist. I am sure that all women of today’s society would find that they have in common the challenge presented by balancing the priorities of ones life. Whether the challenge is juggling family and career, or school and sport we all manage to live up to the challenge. The reason being is just as Margaret Thatcher explained. It is satisfying and there is a great sense of accomplishment when you have a variety of challenges set forth to you and everyday you conquer. Each of our everyday accomplishments, our work, our service to others ultimately defines our success and with such success we can all proudly say that we are women of “Purple.”